ashleywood.ash
Active Member
worth getting a cheap mig if its just for your use.
i would spend £150-200 on a reasonable one and then find a soft drinks supplier in your area and get a bottle of co2.
it will last years
i would spend £150-200 on a reasonable one and then find a soft drinks supplier in your area and get a bottle of co2.
it will last years
beerdude
Active Member
Its more a necessity than an option 
Gotta be a mig, have a look at Carkes / Machine Mart and try to get in there on a vat free day, I think there's one in January, their own brand are a very good starter, not sure how much they are now but they will be on their web site. Think about getting a 10 or even 20 litre gas bottle, talk to you local welding suppliers, mine are very helpful, also you will need a grinder with slitting (cutting) discs and grinding discs, a welding helmet and gauntlets are a good idea. Good luck.
Kev
Gotta be a mig, have a look at Carkes / Machine Mart and try to get in there on a vat free day, I think there's one in January, their own brand are a very good starter, not sure how much they are now but they will be on their web site. Think about getting a 10 or even 20 litre gas bottle, talk to you local welding suppliers, mine are very helpful, also you will need a grinder with slitting (cutting) discs and grinding discs, a welding helmet and gauntlets are a good idea. Good luck.
Kev
winchman
Active Member
Many years ago I bought a second hand Mig set, used a Pub type Co2 bottle, got a speed light mask and its all be a god send, when the Mig finally broke I took a chance at a local Car Boot sale and bought a Draper one for £20, I cant fault it.
As above you need a grinder and some instruction and its then a very handy skill to have, should be plenty of stuff on Youtube etc, also look for the Mig welding forum as I am certain some one will let you pop around and have a go.
I have built allsorts, me and my mates have saved many a car from the scrap yard, one of the lads totally rebuilt a series 3 with my £20 Draper one.
Look at it this way lets say the repairs are £200, if you spend £200 on the gear the next repair is free, I quite like welding and making palnels much more relaxing than messing with oily stuff
As above you need a grinder and some instruction and its then a very handy skill to have, should be plenty of stuff on Youtube etc, also look for the Mig welding forum as I am certain some one will let you pop around and have a go.
I have built allsorts, me and my mates have saved many a car from the scrap yard, one of the lads totally rebuilt a series 3 with my £20 Draper one.
Look at it this way lets say the repairs are £200, if you spend £200 on the gear the next repair is free, I quite like welding and making palnels much more relaxing than messing with oily stuff
Arc welding is not a lot of good on thin metal. MIG or TIG is the way to go, gasless wire is not that good, and gas isn't exactly hard to come by.
CO2/Argon mix for MIG and pure Argon for TIG.
If you have a lot of welding to do, Air Liquide do a rent-free bottle system.
Rental Free Cylinders - Air Liquide
Bottle includes a regulator. Not the cheapest, but probably better than CO2 by itself. Do a search for similar topics in the past month.
Peter
notenoughtime
Active Member
Don't buy the cheapest but you don't have to spend a fortune! Def gas, use co2 argon mix, 135amp or bigger tbh
Murex are decent but sh prices are expensive
Don't your brothers know anyone selling one if they are welders?
Murex are decent but sh prices are expensive
Don't your brothers know anyone selling one if they are welders?
HI
Yup get one i use a 150amp mig for mine, use the argon gas mix buddy gets better welds.
Dont use co2 from a drinks tank, you will not achieve strong welds as they use a different mix of c02.
Many do use it and have used it well,
but for a novice i would use the argon mix as its easier to get to grips with,
Yup get one i use a 150amp mig for mine, use the argon gas mix buddy gets better welds.
Dont use co2 from a drinks tank, you will not achieve strong welds as they use a different mix of c02.
Many do use it and have used it well,
but for a novice i would use the argon mix as its easier to get to grips with,
ronsealdeath
Sagging Member
I use a clarke 150te and its good. Argon mix gives a flatter weld which is neater and requires less grinding after! Co2 is ok though. Its by no means cheap or simple to diy weld (hence why some use filler and newspapers! ) but its cheaper than a garage and is the proper way to do repairs to bodywork and chassis.
Arc welders can be useful if you want a quick and dirty solution and where your metal has paint or crud on it. Not easy tho. I used mine when I ran out of gas and it looked horrible but was solid. Pu sealant hid the welds nicely
Arc welders can be useful if you want a quick and dirty solution and where your metal has paint or crud on it. Not easy tho. I used mine when I ran out of gas and it looked horrible but was solid. Pu sealant hid the welds nicely
However do NOT bother with Gasless MIGs. I have a very very old Condor Monarch 120, although not that powerful it was acquired second hand in 1987 by my father so I have no idea how old it is but it is a proper workshop welder (on wheels and designed for a full size cylinder on the back). I did have to 'restore' it before restoring the back of my disco 2 chassis though!
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notenoughtime
Active Member
I bought a sh murex Tradesmig, cost me £150 about 15 years ago! Great machine
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notenoughtime
Active Member
Best to get one with dials rather than hi/lo switches as you have more control of e welder then
SpaceDawg
Active Member
Yes get one, I have a Sealey and have used my mates Clarke 155, they both work. It has been very useful for small repairs and wealding the whole front end on when a tree jumped in front of Larry, see below. Get a hobbygas bottle if you can sprare the additional £100, little bottles just don't last.
Oh and I'm an IT Nerd, welding is not difficult so don't be worried about doing it. The Mig-Welding Forum is a good place for info.
"Living with Larry" my Land Rover Discovery 1 300TDI and overland travel: Land Rover Discovery bodywork repairs (or, how to feel like a real man).
Oh and I'm an IT Nerd, welding is not difficult so don't be worried about doing it. The Mig-Welding Forum is a good place for info.
"Living with Larry" my Land Rover Discovery 1 300TDI and overland travel: Land Rover Discovery bodywork repairs (or, how to feel like a real man).
Pauldw
Member
Definitely get a Mig - Gas over gasless every time, the weld is much cleaner (gasless is nice in the wind, but not tidy!!)
150amp is great for a learner, any bigger and people tend to get frustrated and turn them up, increasing their problems (and frustration) - anything less that 130amp wont have the power for "big" welds.
Make sure it is a "Turbo" (means it is fan cooled) - gives a longer duty cycle (the time before it gets too hot and shuts off - being an IT Guy, you'll know that!)
Dials are better then Hi/Lo switches - as others state gives better control.
A working second-hand MIG is usually good value for a novice (although I always buy second hand machinery like this - but also enjoy fixing all types of machinery up as well as using them....). If buying second hand, make sure you also buy a new gun-liner (little plastic tube that the welding wire runs through), compatible wire nozzles (for the wire size you are using) and a new gas shroud. these items are really cheap - and many times ive used other peoples welders where these items are worn/damaged....and they wonder why "the welder" wont weld "properly...."
The guys on here are really helpful - with some immense fabrication experience - check out some of the resto/build threads and see what can be done, you can do it too!
150amp is great for a learner, any bigger and people tend to get frustrated and turn them up, increasing their problems (and frustration) - anything less that 130amp wont have the power for "big" welds.
Make sure it is a "Turbo" (means it is fan cooled) - gives a longer duty cycle (the time before it gets too hot and shuts off - being an IT Guy, you'll know that!)
Dials are better then Hi/Lo switches - as others state gives better control.
A working second-hand MIG is usually good value for a novice (although I always buy second hand machinery like this - but also enjoy fixing all types of machinery up as well as using them....). If buying second hand, make sure you also buy a new gun-liner (little plastic tube that the welding wire runs through), compatible wire nozzles (for the wire size you are using) and a new gas shroud. these items are really cheap - and many times ive used other peoples welders where these items are worn/damaged....and they wonder why "the welder" wont weld "properly...."
The guys on here are really helpful - with some immense fabrication experience - check out some of the resto/build threads and see what can be done, you can do it too!
